After this years auditions, boot camp and judges houses The X Factor final 12 were chosen over the weekend and Flavourmag has outlined all you need to know about the finalists! The X Factor final 12 acts have also moved into their shared house ahead of the live shows, which start this weekend.
Last year the contestants stayed in a hotel, but there were rumours of foul-play and bad behaviour among some of the acts. It seems the show’s bosses have decided to play it safe this year and have paid a whopping £5m for their own mansion just outside of London.
The X Factor hopefuls are going to be living in luxury, as the house they are staying in used to belong to legendary singer Lionel Richie and features a swimming pool, basketball court, a music room complete with piano, an extravagant kitchen, a table tennis table and that incredible sweeping staircase.
Here we introduce you to the final 12.
GIRLS – MENTOR – NICOLE SCHERZINGER
ABI ALTON, 19
She lives in the same area as previous X Factor winner James Arthur and has also gigged with him too! Abi is a true musician who writes her own songs and plays both the guitar and piano. The 19 year old northerner is best known for her arena audition after she broke down while singing about a boy who had broken her heart. The young couple have since reunited.
TAMERA FOSTER 16
Tamera was once part of the duo Silver Rock but the judges decided the group were better suited as soloists. In the arena auditions she notoriously forgot the lyrics but progressed through to Bootcamp, then judge’s houses. Before girls mentor Nicole Scherzinger made her final decision she dramatically asked Tamera to give her some time to think about it. Tamera of course made it through and has been named the bookies favourite.
HANNAH BARRETT, 17
Hannah’s background has touched the hearts of many – her father died when she was nine and she currently lives in temporary accommodation for young adults following a difficult relationship with her mother. The 17 year old college student became a fan favourite with each emotional audition. From Emeli Sande’s ‘Read All about It’, to Jennifer Hudson, ‘One Night Only’ – she always sings with passion.
GROUPS – MENTOR GARY BARLOW
ROUGH COPY (Kaz 24, Sterling, 25 and Joey, 27)
The Croydon trio have certainly had a lot of up and downs during the competition. They were formed five years ago and auditioned last year but had to withdraw due to visa issues. The group re-entered this year only to go down to a two piece once judges house took place in New York with the same visa issues arising again. But the Sterling and Joey gave a stellar performance – making it through. Kaz has since re-joined the group for the live shows.
KINGSLAND ROAD (Josh, 20, Connor, 19, Thompson, 22, Matt, 25 and Jay, 19)
Gary Barlow says that they are Take That back in their younger days. In the lead up to Judges’ Houses, Kingsland found themselves rehearsing so much that they lost their jobs. But luckily they impressed group mentor Gary Barlow with their brand of “dirty feel good pop” and made it to the final 12.
MISS DYNAMIX (SeSe Foster,22, Rielle Carrington, 16, Jeanette Akua, 21)
Miss Dynamix is the newly formed urban girl group who were given just eight hours of rehearsal time after they were put together at Bootcamp. They sailed through with their rendition of Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’ and would later wow at judge’s houses with their cover of All Saints ‘Pure Shores’ – making it to the final 12. SeSe Foster is now rumoured to be five months pregnant with her second child.
BOYS – MENTOR LOUIS WALSH
LUKE FRIEND, 17
Most known for not washing his hair for 9 months, the judges loved him. Nicole said he was a “diamond in the rough” and after wowing the crowd at the arena auditions Gary Barlow told him that ” get used to it, this is your future “. At judge’s houses, we saw an emotional side of Luke when he sang Cannon Ball by Damian Rice. It is a meaningful song for him as he sang it to his grandpa before he passed away.
NICHOLAS MCDONALD, 16
Nicholas has been singing since he was 3 years old and gigs at local venues back home in Scotland. The sixteen year old has he said wants to give back to his parents after their constant support of his singing and believes The X factor is that opportunity. He added: ‘To be in the live shows is overwhelming and amazing, as I never thought I’d be here and I am so thankful to be in this position. I hope I do Louis and everyone proud.’
SAM CALLAHAN, 19
Sam is a Essex lad and part-time bartender. Although his passion is music and has supported X-Factor alumni District 3 and Union J on a number of gigs in Scotland. Also who can forget he has a nice set of abs!
OVER 25’S- MENTOR SHARON OSBOURNE
SHELLEY SMITH, 34
Shelley is a delivery driver with a larger than life personality and an even bigger voice. She lives in Devon with her daughter and made it to Bootcamp in both 2008 and 2012 but finally got through to live shows after wowing Over’s Judge Sharon Osborne.
LORNA SIMPSON, 26
Lorna is a south London, university student who dreams to be as big as Mariah Carey and Beyoncé and sell millions of records. She actually won a prize of £8,000 in 2010, while living in Jamaica where she took part and won the islands, ‘Tasty Talent’ competition. She said to hear those words: ‘You’re in my Top 3’ from Sharon was the best day of her life.
SAM BAILEY, 35
Sam from Leicestershire is best known for being a prisoner officer with the amazing voice. She wowed all four judges in room audition with her rendition of Beyoncé’s Listen and gave a rousing arena and Bootcamp audition. Sam still says ‘The whole thing still doesn’t feel real to me.’
[…] through Bootcamp with their rendition of Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’. They would later impress Gary Barlow at judge’s houses with their cover of All Saints ‘Pure Shores’ and make it to the final 12. […]